Wire sectioning mechanism and method



Jan. 1, 1935.

c. B. PALUCKI 1,986,356

WIRE SEGTIONING MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed July 12, 1932 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v VE/V TOR A TTORNE V8.

W Kama F! Jan. 1, 1935. Bf PALUCKI 1,986,356

WIRE SECTIONING MECHANISM AND METHOD Fild July 12, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C uv'lna 8 @ahoka'. J BY lMmlum/iq km k \nl/ A TTORN VS,

Jan. 1,' 1935.

c. B. PALUCKI 1,986,356

WIRE SECTIONING MECHANISM AND METHOD I Filed July 12, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 NITED ST ll wmnsEorIoNiNG MECHANISM Charles ialuckiji'west linglewood, lljasa New YorlaNla corporation ofNewlersey I Application July 12, "1932, Serial 116,32 11 claims. (Cl. 14Q i o)jj U i a p t This invention is a novel wire sectioning mechanism and 'method, having particularreference to an apparatus or device for feeding or advanci g Wire in step by step manner and severing the same into sections or predetermined lengths of wi'reyfor various purposes. In using the term wire it is intended. to include strips, ribbons or other elongated supply material requiring to be cut u or sectioned into short lengths, I

While the mechanism hereof is adapted to a widerange of utilitma particular field is the feeding'and severing of wires into sections for the production of individual filaments forincandes- "centlarnp orother electrical purposes. The machine as designed, constructed andherein illustrated was specifically intended fcrthe' sectioning or severing into suitable lengths] of filament wire of the coil type consisting typically of a very fine tungsten wire wound helically upon a less fine supporting or temporary ,wire or mandrel of bronze, steel or ether material jwhiehis adapted subsequently to be removedto leave the helical tungsten filament in condition for embodiment in a lamp; In this and other embodiments the feeding and severing operations of the invention will preferably be preceded by the straightening of the wire or filament material under. tension and under theso ftening action of heat, for example by passj ing the supply wire from a tension or resistance device through a groove in anelectrically heated bar of nichrorne or other suitable metal while under tension. Following the feeding and severing operation hereof the short, sections orlengths of wire, of the helically wound type, may be subjected to a chemical or'other action'to dissolve out or removethe mandrel wire from the helical filament itself, and thereafter to suitable cleansing or other actions, according. towell known practice, before mounting'the filament in the The general object of the present'invention is to afford a mechanism for feeding and severing sections or lengthsof wire which'will be efficient and accurate inoperation and rapid in output.

Further objects include the exact and uniform in- 'termittent feeding of the supply wire between severing actions, the delicate handling of the wire during feeding and severing, and a clean cutting action in severing successive actions. 1A further object is to provide for ready adjustment, of feed to deliver wire sections of varying lengths, with accompanying adjustments, to coordinate therewith;

" Further objects and advantages will be eitplained in the "hereinafter followingfdescription right taken anthems "ofFig, 2.

or will be understood byf'those conversant with advantages referred to the" present inventionlcofi sists'in"tlie 'novel wire sectioni nglor feeding jafl d" severing mechanism pr apparatiis, and the novel features of method; operation-combination, ar-

rangement and herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawing 's' Figure 1 is'a the subject. To the attainment ofthe objects and top plan view of awiresectioningfmachine' 'e'mbodying the-presentiinvention. i

FigLfZ isa frontelevation ofj 'such machine.

Fig. 3, on a larger scalefis 'arightelevation of the parts appearing at the righ themachinef' Q Fig. 4' is" a'transverse section looking from the Fig. 5 is a-transversesection lookingfrom jtn'e right taken on theline 5- 5 of I Fig. 6-"is an'inclinedsection o certain-"parts Fig. '7 1st artialfrear "elevation, partly broken wamshowm'g the mechanism at the right end of the machine, but "ina' different stage of movement or cycle from Figs. 1 'to 6,namely with the feed at the advanced dead center;

Fig, 3 is a front elevationfofthefleft endof the machineiwith the parts ina different stage of position, namely feediatthe retracted dead centens F H Fig. 9 is, adetached front elevation of the cam and follower whichope'rate the feeding gripper.

To picture the delicacyand' required accuracy of the sectioning operation a) typical case may be described for the manufactureof coilediilaments.

The actualtungstenorfilamentwire itself may be almost invisibly fine-namely 1. 0'005 inch diameter, and this may be wound :h'elical fashion l h S tably a e V u QnS. u on a b onz mandrel wire of .0025 inchdia'm eter'. An indefinitely along supply loffthis compound wire is received byfthe feeding means afterbeing straightened by theapplication o f softening heat under tension, which atthe sametime' anneals the helix wire, and may be intermittently f ed for a distance ofsayv 55 millimeters at each step,- and severed, for subsequent treatment inathe production ofa about"7200 filaments per h'our. These several items of dimension and other data may be widely raises the temperature of the Wire; to a point where it is somewhat softened,"suilici ently tode stroy its springiness or render .it in condition to be straightened. The heating "device may consist of an elongated bar 16 of resistance .metal having a groove to receive the wire and being substantiah,

ly surrounded by an insulating or asbestos 'cas-" wing. The wirepassing step byqstep through the heating device is dstawn tight and kept straightened by the joint action of the tension drag means and the pullingor teeding means, so-that as the 'wire issuesi-rom the heating -device,-..and cools down-it is in a straight condition suitable .for subsequent ieedingholding, severing and dis charge, and torsubseguentoperations. 7 v

Beyond the heating means the wire travels straightly tonn, intermittent [feeding means comprising preferably a ieed irgg-gripper .15? mounted.

I on a carriage 18 reciprocable along the path of wire travel. -Beyond the teeding' gripper/is a holding gripper .19 which isprefetably stat-ionarily mounted :which holds thewire vnear its advanced end while the feeding gripper, having released thewira isp-returning ior a new stroke. Immediately beyond the hplding gripper is a S verin orsheari-ng device 2d,;preferably stationarily mounted, operating to \cut off each advanced ,portion of wireand discharge .ituas' asevered product or section win-to a suitable receptacle or chute. These essential operative instruments, the teeding gripper; the holding igr'ipper and the severingdeviqe are arranged in straight .ali-nement "the direction or path of travel Lot wire and are operated .-poordination ,by the mechanism to be described. The reciprocatinggripperlfl simultaneously pullsthe wire from the supply and ;straig-htens and pushes it through the .open holding gripper 19. If required, a collapsible ,guide could rbe inSented-between the two grippers, to support the stretch of wire during thepushing action, .but ordinarily the straighteningof the wire obviates this requirement and dispenses with suchguide. A Y .1

The entire mechanism may: be mounted on -a hollow cast ironbase 2]. above -w l 1ich:. is --supported a .guide .bar. 22 on which the carriage l3 reciprocates like .acrosshead, theguidebeingsupported .at its left end by a bracket 23upstanding from the base and at its right end by a bracket 24 which supports also "the holding gripper and severing device." Near the left "end of'the base are a pair ofupstand'ing'brackets orbearings 25 giving support to a transverse operating shaft 26 rotated by powenthrough adriv ing pulley 2'7 by belt f-rom rnotor 28 and'c'arrying a. cam '29 from which motion lls transmitted for the operation of the holding gripper and zsevering device. The

shaft 26 is preferably :at right-angles to the line for effecting the four movements of the mechanism, namely reciprocating the carriage over a distance equal to the length of the desired wire sections, and at the advanced dead center position causing the opening of the feeding gripper and simultaneous closing of the holding gripper and at its retracted dead center reversing the grippers and during the retraction of the feeding gripper, while the wire is held by the holding gripper, operating the severing device.

Referring next to the reciprocation of the :carriage, this is effected with a crosshead motion from the crank disk 30, which for this purpose "is formed with a radial guide or slot 31 and constituting an effective icrank arm or web. The disk is shown as carrying adjacent or parallel to the slot a':scale or index 32 graduated to give a reading showing the length of the throw and. thereforethe length of the severed products, in conjunction with an .index .mark 32*? placed for. convenience on the gripper cam to be referred to.

.Adiustable in the undercut crank guide .or .slot 31 is shown a crank pin or stud 33, with an enlargement or foot .34lrunning in the slot 31 and having flat side edges preventing rotation therein. front of the disk asleeve 35orspacing .member surrounds the stud, and in front of the sleeve is shown awasher against which bears a holding nut 36, which tightens the entire assemblage and may .be-loosened-to shift the stud radially in the slot. The pitman 37 which .re-

ciprocatesthe carriage 18 turns on the flange sleeve .35 and is thereby driven by the crank, .the

otherend of the pitman engaginga pin 38 arranged at the rear side of the carriage, extending between the carriage body and a rear extension .39. According to the adjustment of the crankstud in the radial guide the carriage will reciprocate through a ,predeterminable distance. The sleeve 35 may-be integral with the cam .40 to be described, both held against rotation in the stud- 33...

.Referring .next to the timed connections for :opening and closing theieeding gripper, these commence with .a cam 4.0 operated by the shaft 26 and having connections to the gripper. This cam and connections manifestly .must .be adjustable .to accordwith changes in position or throw 0f .the..carr iage. The shaft operated cam .for this purpose .is shown .as radially adjustable on the disk 30 .between varying eccentric positions.

will retain their proper relative condition. .131-

though the cam is mounted eccentrically, instead of .at the center of the disk, it nevertheless is [effectively rotated'by the shaft and communicates its predetermined timing 'to the operation of the gripper.

v The construction of the shaft cam 40 to operate the gripper may be as follows. It .is shown as mounted between pitman 3'7 and. the disk '30 .on the flattened part of Lthestud 33, so that the cam is held against relative rotation. The cam peripheryis formed with two concentric portions or dwells and between them an eccentric portion or .rise ,41 operatingto open the gripper and a corresponding eccentric portion or drop 42 allow- ..ing the closing of the gripper. The cam operates same instant thatthefeeding gripper releases the wire, so that the wire is always positively held by one or theother of th grippers and yet is not held byflooth. of them suificiently long to cause any possible distortion of the wire. I

.;&The shearing or ise-vering device is shown as comprising the following elements. Mounted on the extension '71 isia shear lever 85, its-extremity being connected by ail-universally jointed adjustable-iink-BB withthe rock arm 68, which thereby lifts .and'lowers the shear lever. On the shear leyerds shown a shear disk 8'7 which descends at each operation to sever "the projecting end of wire: and the shear disk is rotatable manually or otherwise from time to time to present a new cutting surface. Cooperating therewith is a fixed shear member or bushing .88 having a small perforation through which :the wire is fed and from which it projects. Both ofthe shearing'memibersfare of hard cutting metal. "IT-he lower or perforated member may be rotatable to bring a new part of its periphery to the under .side, so asetorenew the edge, and this bushing may be readily. replaceable, or oan "be machined ofi to renew its cutting edge- The timed coordination of the reciprocating carr'iag'e', the-feeding gripper, the holding gripper and the shearing device have been sufficiently ind'icated' and the shaft cams 28 and 40 are shown in contourto afford such operation. The feed is exactly uniform and readily changeable to fill varying orders. The feeding .and severing ac- 'tions' are properly coordinated, although the timing might be changed. For example the shearing device is shown as operating immediately upon oraft'erthc closing of the holding gripper, thus utilizing the same motion of the rock arm' 68 for both'purposes, the gripper cam 7'? having a dwell-enabling the rocking motion to continue after the-closing of the gripper, thus to effect the shearing action. By different arrangements however the shearing could be performed at .any point of time after the closing of the'holding gripper'and before its reopening, so long as the shearing disk is retracted so as not to'istand in theway of the succeeding feed action.

{Having thus described an illustrative embodimen t-fs'howing the principles and attaining the objects of the present invention, it is herebysstated that-it is not intended to limit the invention to features of combination, arrangement and iconst'r-uction except to the extent set forth in the -appended'claims;

1 v What is claimed is: v

' passes from the supply, a reciprocating carriage fort/he feeding gripper, and means for-severing the wire" and holding its end after each feed; .a rotary shaft having timed connections to the severing and holding means, and connections from the shaft to the'carriage and feeding gripnecting rod from the follower to the'feeding gripper to open and close it; said cam being relatively fixed on' the crank but actually rotary by reason I of the crank travel around its axis whereby to actuate the follower and connecting rod. 7,

- 2. ,*In a wire sectioning mechanism the combination'of a feeding gripper to which the wire passes from the supply, a reciprocating carriage were,

ing ,and.,-.ho1ding means, and connections from the shaft to the carriage and feeding grippe comprising a crank, having a pin eccentric to the shaft, with .a pi'tman from the crank pin to the carriage; and a cam. in eccentric position on the crank, a cam follower, and a connecting rod from the follower ,to the feeding gripper to open and close it; said crank havin means to adjust its throw to rary the length of seyeredsections of wire and correspondingly to adjust the cc centricpositionlof the cam to coordinate the gripper operation therewith. g

.3. Ina-wire sectioning mechanism the combir nation of a reciprocating gripper carriage. a feeding l rip 'er on the carriage through which the wire passes, an operating shaft, timed means for severing the wire and holding its end after eac'hfeed, vand connections from the shaft to the carriage and feeding gripper. comprising'a radial-guide, a slideblock thereon havin means to fixit invar-ying adjustments, a crank pin on said slideblock with a pitman from the crank pin to carriage, and a cam on said .slideblock with a follower and connecting rodto the gripper; whereby adjustment .of the ,s'lideblock varies thethrow and feed while retainin coordinated relation of carriage and gripper operations.

4. Mechanism as in claim 3 and wherein the cam is mounted at substantially the same radial point as the crank pin. 1

5. In awire sectioning mechanism the combination of a reciprocating gripper carriage, a feeding gripper on the carriage through which the wire passes, an operating shaft, and connections from the shaft to the carriage and feeding gripper, comprising a radial guide, a slideblock or cheek on the shaft with a radial guide, a slidebloc'k movable along said radial guide, .a crank pin on the slideblock with .pitman connection to the carriage to reciprocate it, a timing device or cam also on the slideblock, with rod connection to the gripper to operate it.

'7. An intermittentwire feeding mechanism comprising a feeding gripper, a crank having a member or block adjustable .to difierent radial positions to vary the throw and feed, a connection from the crank to-the gripper for bodily reciprocating the gripper through an adjustable travel, a cam or timing device carried on the said crank member or :block, and a connection from such cam to the gripper for opening and closing it.

*8. The method. of straightening wire and sectioning it into short straight lengths, comprising subjecting the wire supply to friction drag, applying heat and softening a substantial extent of the wire beyond the drag point, dragging the wire intermittently through the drag and heating points thereby applying tension to straighten it under heat and feeding it to the desired length,

holding the wire straight between the drag point and the holding point after each feeding operation, and severing a length of straightened wire beyond the holding point after each pulling operation.

9. Mechanism for feeding wire from a supply and for severing it at regular intervals to produce short sections, namely of the type wherein is a reciprocating feed carriage carrying a wire gripper, a crank with pitman for reciprocating the carriage, and an operating device with connecting rod to close the feed gripper for each feed action and open it at the end thereof, and a wire severing means at a. suitable position; said gripper operating device being located on said crank at an eccentric position adjacent to the pin of the crank, and with its gripper connecting rod substantially parallel to said pitman;

whereby both the reciprocation and gripper'operation are effected from the same crank with exact coordination and without conflict.

10. Mechanism as in claim 9 and wherein the crank pin is adjustable to change the crank throw and the gripper operating device and connecting rod are correspondingly adjustable on the crank; whereby the length of product may be varied and the opening and closing of the gripper coordinated therewith.

11. Mechanism as in claim 9 and. wherein the crank carries a block adjustable outwardly or CHARLES B. PAL'UCKI. 

